Can I pay by e-check or credit card, and are there fees?
Yes. San Diego County property taxes can be paid through the Treasurer-Tax Collector’s official online payment system using e-check or an accepted credit card. E-check is free. The published convenience fee for credit card payments is 2.19%. Review the payment method, fee and total shown before submitting.
Compare e-check and credit card payments
| Payment method | Information needed | Published payment fee |
|---|---|---|
| E-check | Bank routing and account numbers, plus the information requested during checkout. | No payment-processing fee. |
| Accepted credit card | Card and billing information requested during checkout. | 2.19% convenience fee in addition to the tax payment. |
These payment-processing fees are separate from any penalties or other charges already included in your tax balance. The official Secured Property Tax FAQs explain accepted cards and the convenience fee.
Prepare your bank information for e-check
Enter the routing and account numbers for the bank account you intend to use. Check them carefully against your bank’s records or a physical check. Do not enter your debit card number as the bank account number.
Confirm that the account can be used for the payment and has sufficient funds. If a payment is returned, follow the e-check guidance linked from the official Tax Collection page or contact the office to confirm the bill’s status and how to resolve the returned payment.
Check the accepted card types
The Treasurer-Tax Collector lists Visa, MasterCard and Discover credit cards, and all American Express cards, as accepted for online or phone payments. Its instructions state that other debit cards, dual-use cards, gift cards and prepaid cards are not accepted.
For credit card payment by phone, the published number is 855-829-3773. Review the fee and transaction details before authorizing payment.
Review the bill and complete submission
Check the parcel or bill number, tax year, installment, payment amount and any convenience fee before submitting. If you need help locating the bill, see how to find your property tax bill online.
Online payment is not complete until you submit the transaction and receive a receipt marked “Successful.” Save the receipt and confirmation details. If the result is unclear, check with Tax Collection before submitting another payment.
For payment questions, call 877-829-4732. This assistance line does not accept payments; it is separate from the pay-by-phone number.